In a significant development, Pakistan's Supreme Court has overturned a ruling by Peshawar High Court (PHC) that gave blanket relief to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) politicians in cases related to violence witnessed after the arrest on 9 May of Imran Khan, their party's chief.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan gave its suspension order concerning Asad Qaiser and others of the country's main opposition party, PTI, regarding the violence that occurred after PTI leader Imran Khan was arrested.
Justices Sardar Tariq Masood and Musarrat Hilali objected to the fact that the PHC granted bail on 4 August and suspended the order until the next court hearing, media group Dawn reported on Friday.
The Supreme Court was hearing an appeal by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province against this August order.
The suspension of the court order came in the light of PHC granting bail to the PTI politicians and even barring the police and prosecution department from arresting Asad, Rangaiz Ahmed, Aqibullah, and Attaullah. The authorities disallowed the arrest not only in the present instance but also in all future cases.
Furthermore, PHC issued a circular alerting all judicial officers in the province about their decision.
In a separate case, the respondents were booked under terrorism charges for their alleged involvement in the May clashes.
PTI's party chief and former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April last year. He was subsequently imprisoned on 5 August this year after being handed a three-year jail sentence which Khan is now serving. He was arrested in August after a case was filed against him for alleged violation of the Official Secrets Act by disclosing a secret diplomatic cable.